mid-division, headway 5th, led 2 out, ridden, stayed on flat
mistake 1st, behind, some headway approaching 3 out, 7th, no impression when mistake next
mid-division, hit 4th, weakened 2 out
mid-division, reminders 3rd, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, ridden, effort next, one pace approaching last
mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
held up, headway after 3 out, ridden, 2 lengths 2nd, not fluent last, kept on same pace
led, headed 4th, 3rd and outpaced when hit 3 out, weakened from next
in touch, headway to lead 5th, headed 2 out, weakened last
tracked leader, led 4th to next, behind from 3 out
keen early, in touch, challenged 3 out, ridden next, soon weakened
chased leaders to 5th, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
behind until stayed on from 2 out, never nearer
Nonrunner
Longdale, John Forbes, Primus Inter Pares, Bob's Dream and Pumboo all have claims but we'll award our vote to Namroud. The selection has three and a half lengths to find with John Forbes on their latest running over course and distance but is 3lbs better off today. He has yet to win over hurdles but has finished close up on each of his last two starts and won't need to find too much improvement to have a major say in the outcome. John Forbes has done all of his winning with some cut in the ground although has shown this month that he handles faster conditions. Bob's Dream is another pretty solid option whilst Primus Inter Pares scored from a 2lb higher mark over fences last time so has an obvious chance back over timber. It's hard to be confident but Namroud is taken to hit the target.
John Forbes 4-1 (9-12) Close up on outside, ridden and outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching last, no impression, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Soubriquet (10-4) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl (3) gd.
Pumboo (FR) 200-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, one pace, 4th of 13, 7l behind Noble Alan (11-1) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Bob's Dream (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Held up, in touch and keen, led 2 out, soon ridden, no extra when headed close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind More Equity (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
Carrietau 11-1 (10-5) Led, ridden, headed approaching last, weakened flat, 5th of 13, 7l behind John Dillon (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Longdale 13-2 (10-9) Held up, chased leaders after 3rd, close up when unseated rider 4 out in race won by John Dillon (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf, 13 ran.
Zanjeer 40-1 (10-12) Held up, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Longdale (10-6) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf, 13 ran.
Breaking Storm (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon one pace, 4th of 13, 14l behind The Shy Man (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Wally Wonder (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Chased leader, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 13, 9l behind John Dillon (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Tom's Toybox 6-1 (10-8) Led, headed 3 out, one pace, 4th of 7, 13l behind King Daniel (11-7) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Namroud (USA) 22-1 (10-2) Held up, ridden after 3 out, headway approaching next, one pace, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind John Dillon (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Hunting Haze 25-1 (11-0) Led until approaching 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 11, 37l behind Knight Valliant (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Suprendre Espere 18-1 (11-0) Led until headed 7th, ridden 3 out, gradually weakened and pulled up at the last in race won by Point (10-9) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in May, 13 ran.
Amjad 66-1 (9-13) Held up, weakened 5th, 9th of 13, 17l behind John Dillon (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Primus Inter Pares (IRE) 15-2 (10-7) Held up, ridden 4 out, headway approaching next, led 2 out, edged left run-in, kept on, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Feb beating Flake (11-7) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Thunderwing (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, outpaced approaching 3 out, one pace from next, 6th of 16, 27l behind Realism (11-3) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb.
